MEDIA RELEASE

Inquiry into Urban Forest Bill 2022

The Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services has announced it will be undertaking an inquiry into the new Urban Forest Bill 2022 (the Bill).

The Bill was presented by the Minister for Transport and City Services on 3 August 2022. The Bill will replace the Tree Protection Act 2005 and proposes to provide a legislative framework for managing trees on private and public land, in line with the objective of enhancing Canberra’s tree canopy to reach a target of 30 percent canopy coverage by 2045.

The Committee will conduct a short inquiry and present recommendations to the Assembly, before the Bill is debated. Committee Chair, Ms Jo Clay MLA, said ‘the Committee sees value in a public discussion about the proposed Bill’s management of the ACT’s urban forest.’

The Terms of Reference for the inquiry are available on the Committee webpage.

Information about how to make a submission is available on the Assembly website.

Submissions close on 2 September 2022. The public hearing will be held on a date to be determined. The Committee must report back to the Assembly by 5 October 2022.

Friday, 12 August 2022

STATEMENT ENDS.

Committee Chair, Ms Jo Clay MLA, on (02) 6205 0131 or Media Office, Alex O’Brien, on 0450 082 187

Committee Secretary, Joanne Cullen, on (02) 6205 0199 or at LACommitteePTCS@parliament.act.gov.au